Machine for extracting from pulverized ores gold and silver



(No Model.)

J. L. HAYWARD. MACHINE FOR EXTRAGTING PROM PULVERIZED DRES GOLD AND SILVPatented June 23, d1885.

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N PETERS, PhotoLilhog'mpha. wuhlngmn. D. C.

UNITED S'rrrrns PATENT OFFICE.,

JACOB L. HAYVV-ABD, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FROM PULVERIZED ORES GGLD AND SlLVEl?.

SPECIFICATION. forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,655, dated June23, 1885.

` pplication filed March 21,1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB L. HAYWARD, a l

citizen of the United States, residing at Framingham, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulMachine for Extracting and Saving the Gold and Silver from PulverizedOrcs and the Gold from Auriferous Sand and Gravel, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for extracting fromgold and silver ores, after having rst been pulverized, the gold orsilver therein, and gold from auriferous sands and gravel; and theobjects of my improvements are, first, to create currents in a body ofwater confined in a tank by which the pulverized ore, sand, or gravelplaced therein is brought into frequent contact with amalgam plateslining the inside of the tank, and the gold or silver caught thereon, orby gravitation to the bottom during the passage of the material from theplace where it enters the tank to the other end Where it is discharged;second, to provide means whereby the mercury placed or fed upon theamalgam plates lining the inside of a tank may pass into a generalreceiver therefor without coming into contact with the upward currents,and to prevent it from being iioured and wasted; third, to pro videmeans for the removal of all the mercury and amalgam from a generalreceiver therefor automatically after it has been fed or placed upon andpassed over the amalgam plates, so that it may be reused or retorted;fourth, to agitate the sand or material treated that may settle to thebottom of atank, so as to prevent it from packing, and to allow the goldthat will or does not amalgamateto gravitate to the bottom beneath theinfluence of upward currents; fifth, to give the tank a jarring motionat frequent intervals to prevent the material treated from lodging uponand covering up the surface of corrugated amalgam plates lining theinside thereof. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevationandverticallongitudinal cross-section of the entire machine, showing theframe-work, cylinder, and driving arrangements in elevation and thebottom or valley of the tank in section. Fig. 2 is an enlargedlongitudinal section of the bottom or l valley, showingreceivingchamber, supplypipe, false bottom, and agitators, and front andrear. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, showing also corrugatedamalgam plates.

Si milar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

The pipe B is the supply-pipc which runs through the entire tank fromend to end and out through stuffing-boxes or anges. Upon the uppersurface of this pipe, at short distances apart along its lengththroughout the tank, are orifices D D. rlhese orifices are so arrangedas to cause the current or force passing through them to shoot upwardand for ward toward the tailing-tank P, Figi, and at the same timealternately or otherwise to the right and left of the center of thetank. The

compressor, steam-boiler, or other means not shown.

The false bottom C runs the entire length of the inside of tank 2,' oversupply-pipe B,with proper openings or holes corresponding with theorifices D in said pipe. This bottom C may be either flexible or rigid,and is so formed as to leave longitudinal spaces or openings c c betweenits outer edges and plates d d. That shown in Fig. 3 is flexible, ubeing gum belting and e steel plates.

The pulverized ore or material to be treated is fed into the cylinder l,Fig. l, through au opening therein. Upon the periphery thereof is ascreen or grating. The coarse material is passed through and out of theopposite end of the cylinder to which it is fed .in,while the finematerial falls through the screen or grating into the tank 2, Fig. l,almost filled with water, where it comes in contact with the upwardcurrents above spoken of, these currents having a direction to therightand left alternately, or otherwise, and all forward,carry the materialto both sides of the tank, and at the same time upward and forward. Thematerial thus acted upon gravitates, and thelight vparti cles areassisted to gravitate by the downward return of the currents, andcomesincon- IOO tact with corrugated amalgam plates d d, Fig.

the false bottom C, where it is again brought in contactv with the neXtupward current and carried to the surface of the water, and gravitatingagain in like manner as before is acted upon by the next upward current,and this action is repeated by each successive upward current until theopening o is reached, where the material is passed into tailing orsettling tank l? and discharged through opening p or by means of atailing-wheel or other device. The action of the said currents is suchthat the material treated and the gold and silver therein arebroughtintofrequent contact with the amalgam plates d d, upon which thegold andsilver are caught.

Mercury is freely fed upon the` surface of the plates d d, keeping themsoft and in good condition for amalgamation. Thesurplusflows down theplates and through thelongitudinal openings or spaces c c, Fig. 3,formed by the outer edges of the false bottom C, and said plates ci dinto A, Figs. l, 2, and 8, the true bottom or valley of the tank.

Through the bottom of A is an endless chain or rope, I, having at equaldistances thereon plates or disks J, and passing through tubes K K,Figs. l and 2, making a tight joint and preventing a flow of water. Thischain is given a continuous motion, and draws the amalgam, mercury, andsuch other material as may pass through the openings c c, Fig. 3, out ofthe bottom or valley A, where it falls into tank O, Fig. l, or otherreceptacle,where it may be drawn off for retorting or reuse. A screw orworm or other device may be used in the place of the chain for the samepurpose.

The material that may settle beneath the levelof orifices D D and aboutthem is agitated by means of the arms F F and adjustable fingers G Gplaced upon the rock-shaft E E, Figs. l, 2, and 3, which havea sidemotion from right to left across the tank and over the false bottom.This motion may be given by means of rod H, Fig. l, working on a cam ona shaft. The arms F and fingers G G, moved as above, prevent all packingof material on the false bottom O and about the orifices D, and theclogging or closing up of longitudinal spaces c c, and allows all thegold or silver that may gravitate or will not amalgamate on plates d dto settle to the bottom of G, beneath the influence of the upwardcurrents from oriiices D D.

A jar motion is given to the tank by means of projections M being placedupon the trunnions of the revolving cylinder I, running upon thefriction wheels S, upon the springs N, on frame B, Fig. l. This jarmotion prevents the material treated from lodging upon and covering upthe surfaces of plates d d.

The tank 2, shown in Figs. l and 3, has but one valley or bottom. Othertanks may be used having more than one such valley or bottom A, eachadditional valley or bottom to be provided with supply-pipe B, withorices D, false bottom C, conveyers I, for the purposes set forth.

I am aware that previous to my invention machines foil1 this purposehave been made, with tanks the inner surfaces of which are covered withamalgam plates, and in which upward currents of water are formed, allhaving supply -pipes through which water is forced, and having revolvingcylinders or screens. I do not therefore claim such a combinationbroadly, but- What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In atank,the bottom (or bottoms or valleys) A,in combination with thesupply-pipes B, false bottom C, and conveyers I, to run the entirelength of tank 2, having spaces between the sides of each valley and thesupplypipe B to admit the free discharge of mercury as may pass throughthe longitudinal spaces c c into the bottom beneath.

2. The supply-pipe B, with orifices D D at short intervals throughoutits entire length and passing through the bottom or valley A, and incombination with false bottom C, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

3. The false bottom O,in combination with the pipe' B and valley A,arranged to leave longitudinal spaces or opening c e between its outeredges and amalgam plates d d or the sides of the valley or valleys ofthe tank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The conveyer I,in combination with false bottom C, pipe B, andvalleys A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the bearings of the friction-wheels S, restingupon springs N, and the projections M on the trunnions of the cylinderl, and cylinder 1, and tank 2, provided with amalgamated plates,substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

6. The combination of tank 2, cylinder l, tailings-tank P, valley A,false bottom C, conveyers I, pipe B, with orifices D, rockshaft E, armsF, lingers G, jar motion M, and tubes K, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JACOB L. I-IAYWARD.

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. Tonn, DnNroN W. DURYEA.

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